Found the only other Raider in Hutchinson and it was a lot cleaner than mine, so I bought it. I’m now the proud owner of a 1988 Raider w/ AT, rebuilt 2.6 and right at 100k miles. Gave $2,500 for it but it will make an excellent run around vehicle for my wife for when we get her 2008 ‘Burban sold.

Well all my front end parts came in for the 87 Raider project, so it is in the shop getting them and the OME lift kit installed.

In the mean time, I've got mama's 88 Raider to work on. It had a Weber carburetor when we bought it, but it's settings were all messed up, NO fuel pressure regulator and the "kick-down" cable was not attached (88 has an automatic tranny) and it wouldn't run over 2k RPM's or 35-40 mph.

I re-used the throttle cable cam from the stock carb. I think I may have to do a little more work to get everything working properly, the secondary's aren't opening up and I don't know why (time for more research, anyone have any idea's??).

I read a lot of posts about how to connect the "kick-down" cable and found lots of things being done to fill the gap from the throttle cam arm to the cable end, from using a piece of wire to a zip tie. I wanted to use something a little more durable and didn't know what I was going to use. Last night I woke up with the perfect solution. I went to the local farm store and purchased a few different sized chain master-links, so I would have some adjustability in length. WORKED LIKE A CHARM!!! Tranny shifts perfect now.

Fuel pressure regulator went on quick (about 15 minutes), since I already worked through the issues installing one on my 87. Noticed the fuel pressure was "bouncing" between 0-4 psi (ding ding ding ding). I think I have a bad fuel pump and the local parts store won't have one until tomorrow. Hope that fixes the issue.

Last thing for today was adding 5oz of sea foam to the oil and running it for about 20 minutes while I sprayed the carb with Sea Foam to clean out the carbon. Did the "Hot" soak and re-run. Then changed oil and filter. I'm amazed how much smoother it runs.

Think I'll take it to a tranny shop for a service after I get the new fuel pump installed.

Still waiting to get my Raider out of the alignment shop, taking a while to get parts.

Mama's Raider is running great now that I got the "kick down" cable properly adjusted and the carb tuned up. I was having a problem with the fuel pressure fluctuating between 0 and 4 psi. Couldn't figure out what the problem was but expected an issue with the existing fuel pump. Come to find out, the previous owner had installed the incorrect fuel pump trying to avoid using a fuel pressure regulator (BIG MISTAKE). It had a restriction on both outlets and wouldn't feed fuel fast enough to the Weber, so the bowl was running dry during acceleration. Also had a conversation with the PO and he didn't remember plugging the coolant port in the intake manifold that was used to heat the Mikuni carb. Gonna have to pull off the Weber and conversion plates tomorrow, to tap and plug the port if it hasn't already been done.

Say Hank, did you find a rear wiper arm, I have an extra somewhere you can have if you still need it.

I know what you mean about rain, We've had around 9" in the last week with hail and tornadoes all over the place. All the ponds are full and country roads around my place are flooded, my boys have to go an extra 10-12 miles just to get to school.

Well, my Raider is FINALLY about to get out of the shop in the next couple of days.

Whew, that was painful in more ways than one. Every time I thought it was getting close, something else would come up being worn out. I'd have to order more parts, then wait 2-3 weeks for them to come in. I thought I had everything ordered and in before it was started but that just shows you what I get for "Thinking". I'll have around $1,500 in parts total, so maybe it is a good thing I didn't order everything at once. Gave me a chance to spread it out over a couple of CC billing cycles. My wife would have had a cow if she knew I spent that much. She still may when the next bill comes in, but it will be worth the kick in the posterior.

Anyways, should make it's debut with like new suspension, steering and brakes. Essentially everything below the frame has either been inspected and expected to be good as new or replaced. Can't wait to get it home.

Will be posting some more pics of it when that happens. I don't think I've missed out on all of our mud-holes disappearing around here yet so I'll get to see how it does.

WhaaHooo!!!

By the way, I decided to name it after one of my favorite Sunday Cartoons "HAGAR the Horrible". He was a Raider wasn't he, well a Viking anyways.

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